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Shedeur Sanders injury update: Browns QB's likely status revealed for preseason game vs. Eagles

by: Alex Byington08/13/25_AlexByington
shedeur sanders
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders reportedly suffered an oblique strain early during Wednesday’s joint practice in Philadelphia and is “unlikely to play” in Saturday’s preseason game against the host Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Wednesday’s injury and subsequent absence Saturday is a clear setback for Sanders, who impressed many with his play in last Friday’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. The injury comes just days after Sanders had a breakout performance in his first start as a professional quarterback, when the 2025 fifth-round pick out of Colorado completed 14-of-23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s preseason game against the Panthers. Sanders also tallied 19 rushing yards on four carries.

While Sanders’ timeframe for recovery isn’t clear yet, the lost of valuable practice reps could be viewed as a detriment to any progress made in last week’s preseason game. Sanders continues to battle for opportunities in the Browns’ loaded quarterback room that also includes veterans Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and newly-signed Tyler Huntley, as well as fellow rookie and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon.

Jalen Hurts offers Shedeur Sanders advice following first preseason game

One quarterback is six months removed from a MVP performance in Super Bowl LIX, and the other is fresh off an impressive preseason performance in his first NFL start as a rookie fifth-round draft pick.

But on Wednesday, following a joint training camp practice between the Browns and Eagles, Jalen Hurts embraced the opportunity to impart some well-earned professional wisdom on Shedeur Sanders. Sanders, the 23-year-old son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, took a post-practice ride in Hurts’ personal golf cart where the much-discussed quarterbacks discussed the challenges that often come with NFL stardom.

“I’ll keep the conversation intimate. We had a very lengthy conversation. He came to me and just wanted to talk,” Hurts told reporters following Wednesday’s practice, according to The Athletic’s Zach Berman. I’m always there … giving my perspective on what I see and how I’ve gone about things. Ultimately, it takes a great deal of patience and hard work and a sense of resilience. You’ve got to want it. You’ve got to want it. I’m supporting him from where I am and wishing him nothing but the best with his opportunities.”

Hurts, who’s experienced more than his fair share of career ups and downs, quieted his own NFL critics last season after leading the Eagles to a 40-22 win over the back-to-back defending champion Kansas City Chiefs with an MVP performance in Super Bowl LIX, combining for 293 total yards and three touchdowns on Feb. 9 in New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome.